Bacogai

Bacogai always hits the spot when I’m looking for a cozy meal that I can enjoy while catching up with friends or family. They serve traditional Viet food but they’re known for their Viet Hotpot! I’ve been able to try all of their broths except the vegan broth. My go to is their Lau Oxtail because you get little bits of bone marrow in each oxtail piece! Each hotpot comes with a pre-set veggie & add-ins plate but the staff are always so nice and have let me substitute the ramen noodles for udon noodles before. I always appreciate how plentiful the mushrooms are and that they will replace the Sterno (heating mechanism) if it runs out. You can also get a broth refill! Usually the first one is complimentary but I’m not super clear on that policy. Make sure you use the sauces they provide for

An absolute must-visit! From the presentation to the service and the serene atmosphere; everything about this place is exceptional. It’s not posh or pretentious, but quaint, calming, and full of charm. The food is outstanding, and the service is warm and genuine. I’m visiting from the East Coast and already wishing I could find a spot like Bacogai in Florida. This was hands down the best meal I’ve had in California. If I lived here, this would be my go-to place. Huge kudos to the owners, another very happy (and slightly envious) customer!

Overall I liked the food here. Actually I was surprised by how much I liked their 2 appetizers. The duck salad was super refreshing and the shrimp crackers added a nice contrast in texture. It didn't have that much duck, but that made it taste lighter since duck is quite heavy. The spring rolls were crispy and tasty with the sauce. The 2 hot pots we got were good too. If you like sour flavors like my friend you would enjoy the seafood one (I really really liked the catfish in this one, the sour flavor cut the fishyness really well, and it was super tender!!), but I liked the oxtail soup too. The beef I ordered on the side was good but it was quite expensive. Very melt in your mouth.

What a hidden gem of a Vietnamese restaurant! We had the duck salad (refreshing, flavorful and substantial), the crab rolls (crispy and packed with meat) and the seafood hotpot (clear, flavorful, broth- very unique. Tons of ingredients). And for dessert, we had both the coconut pandan waffles ala mode (delicious but wished the pandan flavor was stronger) and the fried bananas (omg best fried bananas ever). Reasonable prices, great service and tons of free parking. Will definitely come back!

My friend loves this restaurant and said their hot pot was really good so I came here with her. Service was pretty good and the restaurant looks nice. I like the decor. For food, we ordered lau ox tail (beef hot pot) and lau canh chua (sweet and sour hot pot). My friend said the beef hot pot was good, personally, I thought it was okay because I usually don't eat this hot pot flavor so don't quote me on this. As for sweet and sour hot pot, it has good flavor but not exactly excellent so I'm not sure if I'd order it again. We also ordered fried banana and a Vietnamese coffee. Fried banana batter has good flavor but it was quite hard. The good thing about it is it's not too greasy. Vietnamese coffee is just okay. Overall, it's not bad but I think it's too expensive for an okay experience.